Community Groups
Welcome Families & Caregivers
Community Groups provide information, resources, and support to families connected to the group. They groups are based on location, age, relationship to the person with Down syndrome, culture, and/or native language. The groups run independently of each other, and are supported by the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. Each of our Community Groups has a unique personality and strives to serve the families involved.
MISSOURI COMMUNITY GROUPS
Heartland Community Group
Serves: Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois
Meetings: 2nd Saturday of each month, 10:00a-12:00p at Cape Girardeau Public Library in the Penzel Room
Main Contact: Clair Watson – 573.344.5685
heartland_cg@dsagsl.org – facebook.com/heartlandDSA
Central Missouri Down Syndrome Family Network
Serves: Jefferson City area
Meetings: dates and times vary
Main Contact: Kate Basi (Columbia) – 573.449.8342 Nancy Parsons (Ashland) – 573.864.6223 and Paula Backues (Jefferson City) – 573.230.7230
centralmodsfamilynetwork@gmail.com facebook.com/centralmodsfamilynetwork
Kirkwood/ Webster Community Group
Serves: Kirkwood, Webster, and Surrounding areas
Meetings: 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00p at various locations around Kirkwood/Webster
Main Contact: Stephanie Holmes – 314.495.8388 and Cheri Nienhaus – 618.570.8485
kirkwood_cg@dsagsl.org facebook.com/groups/kirkwoodwebstermoms/
Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (DADS)
Serves: the Greater St. Louis area
Meeting: First Wednesday of even-numbered months, locations vary
Main Contact: Tony Sorocko – 314.393.8548
facebook.com/pages/DADS-St-Louis-Chapter dadsstl@outlook.com
Down Syndrome Community Group of Upstate Missouri
Serves: Kirksvilled, Brookfield and surrounding areas
Meetings: various times and locations
Main Contact: Becky Pike – 660.651.5139
kirksville_cg@dsagsl.org – facebook.com/dscnemo
North County & North City Community Group
Serves: North St. Louis County and St. Louis City
Meetings: various times and locations
Main Contact: Sergei Marchenko – 773.817.7054
SYNERGY DSAGSL Community Group
Serves: South County, Jefferson County, St. Louis City
Meetings: Family and Friends Fun Night on the second Wednesday of every month – Incredible Pizza, 5254 S Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63126
Main Contact: Eileen Roth – 636.212.1695
DennisRothSTL@yahoo.com
Down Syndrome Group of the Lake of the Ozarks
Serves: Camdenton, MO and surrounding areas
Looking for New Leadership: If you are interested in leading this group, please contact Family Support Coordinator, Christy Klaus – christy@dsagsl.org
St. Charles County Community Group
Serves: St. Charles, West County, and surrounding areas
Meeting: Monthly at various locations
Main Contact: Karen Ryan – 314.795.1419
stc_cg@dsagsl.org – facebook.com/stcdsgroup
ILLINOIS COMMUNITY GROUPS
Metro-East Down Syndrome Alliance (MESDA)
Serves: Bellville, O’Fallon, Shiloh, and surrounding areas
Main Contact: Bob Lutz – 314.458.6918, Amanda Lutz – 618.789.3664, and Amanda Joyce – 314.593.0092
mesda_cg@dsagsl.org – facebook.com/MetroEastDSA
Southern Illinois Community Group
Serves: Carbondale, Creal Spring, and surrounding areas
Main Contact: Sonya Clark – 618.303.7824
soil_cg@dsagsl.org
facebook.com/SIDownsyndromesupportgroups
OTHER AREA DOWN SYNDROME GROUPS
These are groups that may have their own not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) status, are in our area, are close and valued partners orf the DSAGSL, and who often have overlapping membership
Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks
Serves: Springfield, MO and surrounding areas
Main Contact: info@ozarksdsg.org, 417.885.9905 or 888.655.5173
www.ozarksdsg.org
Lincoln Land Down Syndrome Society
Serves: Springfield, IL and surrounding areas
Main Contact: lldss@comcast.net, 217.415.8716
www.lldss.org
facebook.com/lincolnlanddownsyndromesociety
Central Illinois Down Syndrome Oranization
Serves: McLean County, Bloomington/Normal, and surrounding areas
Main Contact: info@cidso.org, 309.452.3264
www.cidso.org
Riverbend Down Syndrome Association
Serves: Southwest Illinois
Meetings: Fourth Monday of each month, 6:30-8:00p at LeClaire Christian Church, 1914 Esic Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Main Contact: Secretary@riverbendds.org, riverbendds.org
Down County
Serves: Hannibal, Palmyra, Quincy, and surrounding areas
Main Contact: info@upatdowncountry.com, 217.617.3568
www.upatdowncountry.com facebook.com/upatdowncountry
Down Syndrome Support Group - Blessing Hospital
Meetings: last Monday of every month at 6:30pm at 11th Street Auditorium at Blessing Hospital
Main Contact: 217.223.8400 x4190
